Carter's NFL Power Rankings Entering Week 6: Jets Remain Number One

The most interesting football team in the world is looking like the best team as well. Being third in total points scored through five games is a lot better than what I expected. Wins over the Patriots, Dolphins and Vikings are pretty impressive. I would say Buffalo too, but well, that was a little expected.

2. Atlanta Falcons (4-1)

Last Week: No. 6

The Falcons are doing a great job at holding off the Saints for the NFC South’s top spot. Great defense, great quarterback, great lead wide receiver and solid running back tandem. Things are looking good in “Hotlanta.”

3. Tennessee Titans (3-2)

Last Week: No. 8

Vince Young threw for 173 yards and two scores against the Cowboys…now why can’t we see this on a weekly basis??

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)

Last Week: No. 3

3-1 record and being the fourth best team (in my opinion of course) WITHOUT Ben Roethlisberger. Now let’s see what happens with him.

Love the way this team finishes games. They have scored 51 points in the fourth quarter this season, their most in any quarter.

7. San Diego Chargers (2-3)

Last Week: No. 2

On Sunday, Malcolm Floyd became the fourth player in the last two seasons to rack up at least 200 receiving yards and still lose. Terrell Owens, Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Marshall are the other three.

8. Green Bay Packers (3-2) Last Week: No. 5

With the loss of Jermichael Finley, the offensive stats will take a little bit of a hit, but not too much. They could drop a bit this week with Matt Flynn taking the snaps.

9. Baltimore Ravens (4-1)

Last Week: No. 14

They already have wins over the Steelers and Jets this year. Maybe they need a win over the Patriots to get pushed higher in my rankings.

10. Kansas City Chiefs (3-1) Last Week: No. 7

Despite them being the last undefeated team, I still don’t think the Chiefs will make the playoffs. 3-0 isn’t a very exciting start to a season no matter what sport it is. It’s not how you start but how you finish and the Chargers are still the team to dethrone in the AFC West.

11. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)

Last Week: No. 11

Kevin Kolb looked pretty good against the 49ers last week, but it was the 49ers of all teams, so it’s not like it was against a tough opponent.

12. Chicago Bears (4-1)

Last Week: No. 16

Since 1970, only four QBs have thrown four interceptions and averaged two or fewer yards per attempt in a single game: Joe Namath, Kim McQuilken, Dan Pastorini and Todd Collins.

13. Detroit Lions (1-4) Last Week: No. 25

Shaun Hill became the first Lions QB since Joey Harrington in 2005 to win a game in which he threw at least three touchdown passes without a pick. That’s sad if you really think about it. Think about how many times other quarterbacks in the league have had a 3-touchdown-and-no-INT game…the answer is A LOT!

14. New York Giants (3-2)

Last Week: No. 24

Ladies and gentleman, I give to you Hakeem Nicks! Who is AWESOME!

15. Seattle Seahawks (2-2) Last Week: No. 20

Marshawn Lynch will make his debut this Sunday against the Bears. I wish him good luck considering the Bears have the third-best rushing defense.

16. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)

Last Week: No. 17

With all the penalties and turnovers and losses to the Buccaneers AND Browns already, this team deserves a big thumbs down.

17. New Orleans Saints (3-2)

Last Week: No. 12

The Saints have three wins over the 49ers, Panthers and Vikings. Those three teams have a combined record of 1-13.

18. Washington Redskins (3-2)

Last Week: No. 21

The win over the Packers on Sunday marked the first time the Redskins have won back-to-back games since the middle of the 2008 season. Kinda sad, actually.

19. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)

Last Week: No. 15

I’m calling it right now: Loser of the Vikings-Cowboys game in the Metrodome doesn’t make the playoffs.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) Last Week: No. 22

Tampa Bay scored 10 points against the Bengals in the final 1:26 to win on the road for the second time this season. The Bucs were just 2-6 on the road last year.

21. Dallas Cowboys (1-3)

Last Week: No. 19

(See comment under No. 19 Minnesota Vikings)

22. Denver Broncos (2-3) Last Week: No. 16

Kyle Orton joined Brian Griese (2002) as the only QBs in Broncos history with four consecutive 300-yard passing games. Denver lost in October for the first time under head coach Josh McDaniels.

23. St. Louis Rams (2-3)

Last Week: No. 10

The Rams had given up no more than 17 points in each of their first four games of the season until giving up 44 against the Lions. St. Louis has had at least one game where they've given up at least 44 points in each of the last four seasons.

24. Houston Texans (3-2) Last Week: No. 13

Matt Schaub had another not-so-good outing against the Giants (196 passing yards, one interception). Many are beginning to question if this is the start of a downfall for the Texans.

25. Cleveland Browns (1-4)

Last Week: No. 23

It’s kind of sad when the only exciting thing that happened on Sunday involving the Browns was their kicker tying the franchise record for total points kicked in field goals with 234.

26. Oakland Raiders (2-3)

Last Week: No. 27

Solid performances by both Jason Campbell and Michael Bush on Sunday against the Chargers. Campbell threw for 159 passing yards and a touchdown, while Bush ran for 104 yards and a score on 26 carries. Raider Nation is starting to believe that they are legit contenders for the AFC West Championship with the win over the Chargers.

27. Miami Dolphins (2-2) Last Week: No. 26

With two divisional home losses, the Dolphins look like they will finish in third place in the division. That’s not surprising though.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) Last Week: No. 28

Marcedes Lewis caught his fourth TD reception of the season against the Bills. In his first four seasons (2006-09), he had a total of seven TD receptions and no more than two in any one season.

29. Arizona Cardinals (3-2) Last Week: No. 31

Arizona is the second team in NFL history to score 30 or more points without a throwing or running for a touchdown. The other team is the Chicago Bears, who did the same thing in a 30-17 win over the Packers in 1993.

30. San Francisco 49ers (0-5)

Last Week: No. 30

Through the first five games, the 2010 49ers look a lot like the version from 1979—Bill Walsh's first season as head coach of San Francisco. In 1979 (the last time the 49ers started a season 0-5), the 49ers had only an average of 17.8 points per game, gave up an average of 27.4 points per game, had a -4 turnover margin, only 95.6 rushing yards per game and finished that season with a 2-14 record.

This season, the 49ers average 15.2 points per game, give up an average of 26 points, have a -10 turnover margin and only have an average of 77.8 rushing yards per game—and that’s with a healthy Frank Gore. Something tells me this team will finish with around four to five wins. In other words, it’s time to panic if you’re a 49ers fan.

31. Carolina Panthers (0-5)

Last Week: No. 29

Through five games, the Panthers have scored just 52 points, by far the least amount they have scored through five games in franchise history. Their previous low through five games was 77 points in 2004, when they started 1-4.

32. Buffalo Bills (0-5)

Last Week: No. 32

For the first time in team history, the Bills have allowed at least 30 points in four straight games. How embarrassing!!